Prequel Technology.

As Star Trek fans we take things like transporters, phasers, and photo torpedoes for granted. But these futuristic devices weren’t always available to the people who built the Federation. While we can theorize on how we might build these technologies, actually doing it is beyond our grasp. So how do we get from here to there? That’s a question that the writers and designers of Enterprise had to answer. In this episode of Warp Five we’re joined by Tyler Johnson to discuss prequel technology, the devices of the 22nd century that eventually led us to the power wielded by Kirk, Picard, Sisko, and Janeway. What was it like to use the first transporter? How did we get from heat-seeking missiles to photon torpedoes, from grappling hooks to tractor beams? We take a look at the technology of Archer’s time and how the design decisions of the show’s creators were accepted—or rejected—by Star Trek fans.